Research Assistant/Technician 3

Benefits

Additional Information

Staff - Union Job Category CUPE 116 Job Profile CUPE 116 Salaried - Research Assistant /Technician 3 Job Title Research Assistant/Technician 3 Department Shared Instrument Facility | Department of Chemistry | Faculty of Science Compensation Range $4,900.00 - $5,343.00 CAD Monthly Posting End Date June 23, 2026 Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date. Job End Date April 7, 2028 This is a leave replacement for a fixed term duration. At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career. Job Summary Serves 1st to 4th year undergraduate teaching laboratories that focus dominantly on first-year general chemistry, analytical chemistry with some integrated and materials chemistry experiments. Under minimal direction and according to course timetables, is responsible for the setup, maintenance, and supplying of chemicals and equipment for the laboratories. Prepares and standardizes reagents and solutions for these laboratories. Troubleshoots, calibrates and maintains equipment. Maintains chemical inventory and leads laboratory safety program. Orders and receives equipment and supplies from the Chemistry Stores facility. Tests experiments and participates in experiment development. Indirectly supervises teaching assistants (TAs) and students with respect to their laboratory safety practices. Collaboration with lab faculty in direct supervision and monitoring of the work of summer and work study student(s). Organizational Status Reports to lab faculty (e.g., faculty assigned to Chem 141, 211, and 3xx/4xx) for work assignments as necessary. Coordinates work required with chemistry stores, electronics, mechanical and glass shop personnel. Reports to the Manager, Shared Instrument Facility for issues relating to attendance, reassignment, cross-training, and/or human resources issues. Work Performed Helps relay technical and safety information to the TAs and students enrolled in the courses. Responsible for the setup of the lab for numerous lab sections per week involving different chemistry courses with enrollments of up to 60 students per section: - Prepares, standardizes, dispenses and maintains solutions and analytical standards on an ongoing basis. This includes performing algebraic calculations, accurately weighing solids and/or measuring solution volumes with calibrated glassware. Maintains clear written records of solution preparation details. Routinely assays chemicals used by students. - Responds to standard procedures prior/during building maintenance such as fumehood/gas/ water shutdowns. - Prepares, checks, bottles and labels the standard and unknown solutions. This requires working with very low concentrations (ppb range or lower; much smaller than other Chemistry teaching lab technicians) and purity is extremely important as required for the ICP and GC mass spectrometers. Accuracy of solution preparation work is key to successful operation of teaching labs. - Responsible for setup and breakdown of experiment stations at beginning, middle and end of term. This includes disconnecting/disassembling and storing lab equipment, glassware, computers, etc. - Ensures that adequate supplies of chemicals, reagents, deionized water, ice etc. are on hand for each particular experiment and in appropriate form for dispensing to or by the T.A.s or students (i.e. pre-weighed, transferred to liquid dispenser, etc.). This regularly requires lifting weights up to 20kg. - Safely transports and installs high-pressure gas cylinders, both full and empty. - Acts as a resource for students by dealing with inquiries related to the use of equipment used in experiments. - Recovers and purifies chemicals for re-use. - Allocates and maintains inventory of glassware and equipment included in experiment lockers. - Cleans glassware, equipment, laboratory benches as needed - Maintains stocks of supplies and common chemicals. Checks inventory levels and assesses supplier availability and prices in preparation for lab faculty s restocking order. - Neutralizes and/or disposes of hazardous chemical waste (e.g., digestion of excess metallic sodium) and chemical spills (e.g., acid, base, flammable liquid and mercury spills) - Ensures all safety/WHMIS regulations are met and maintains safe lab practices - Participates in Chemistry Department safety programs such as serving as fire warden and/or first aid attendant - Participates in development and testing of new experiments, including development of operating procedures - In consultation with Lab Faculty, configures data acquisition hardware and writes, develops or adapts data acquisition software program - Maintains apparatus and chemical